Communications and Dissemination Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of the Regional Director (RDD) provides the visionary leadership and, together with BOS, supports the Country Offices and all the other Divisions in the efficient delivery of the EPW through agile transformation and implementing WHO Value Charter. RDD has the overall responsibility for the planning, execution and evaluation of WHO programmes at the regional and country levels and in strengthening the alignment and joint work across the three levels of the organization. It is the safeguard of the WHO Values Charter. It encompasses the enabling functions of resource mobilization and alliances, external relations and communications, and support to governing bodies of the European Region, in addition to organization development, staff development and learning, and transformation. It also specifically includes the representative function of WHO with the institutions of the European Union, the EURO Ombudsman who reports directly and independently to the Regional Director, and the committee on staff health and wellbeing.

The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies is at the forefront of international evidence generation and knowledge brokering for health policies and systems. Its mission is to support and promote evidence-informed health policy-making through comprehensive and rigorous analysis of the dynamics of health systems and policies in Europe. The Observatory's aim is to generate evidence and broker knowledge so that policy makers can take better health systems decisions and improve population health. Its objectives include:

--> Describing and analysing health systems and the changes they undergo;

--> Mapping trends and making comparisons (including with relevant countries outside Europe) to support European policy making;

--> Mobilizing experience from practice across Europe to give insights into policy issues;

--> Working in partnership with governments, international organizations, academics, policy-makers and practitioners to provide evidence and evidence-informed policy options to national and European policy-makers;

--> Employing (and developing) a range of knowledge brokering tools to communicate effectively with policy-makers;

--> Feeding evidence into the wider health policy debate.

The Observatory is a partnership hosted by the WHO Regional Office for Europe. It includes the Governments of Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland,Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom; the Veneto Region of Italy; the French National Union of Health Insurance Funds (UNCAM); the World Health Organization; the European Commission; the World Bank; the Health Foundation; the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE); and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). The Observatory consists of a Steering Committee, senior management team and staff. Its core Secretariat is in Brussels and it has offices in London at LSE and LSHTM and Berlin (TUB).

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Summary of Assigned Duties

Overall, the aim of the position is to reach policy makers and support technical colleagues in making evidence accessible. The postholder will unpack and communicate key messages; raise the profile and visibility of the Observatory; and foster communication and knowledge brokering networks. The post will also expand web and social media presence and use of new media to increase impact. The incumbent will contribute to the development of a more integrated media and dissemination strategy for Observatory outputs and activities and advise on social media and new tools to increase reach to its diverse target groups.

The incumbent will perform the following key duties:

Print related
1. to write up key messages and content for dissemination for all Observatory outputs (HiTs, studies and briefs) to make findings accessible to the Observatory’s target audiences on-line or in print
2. to work with the publications officer and technical staff to put together integrated dissemination / media materials including flyers, fact sheets, press releases, slides, blurbs, web posts and tweets and other promotional materials
3. to link print-related dissemination materials to the Observatory’s web and social media presence.

Digital and social media
4. to develop and maintain the Observatory’s web site, producing content and coordinating updates
5. to manage and expand the OBS e-newsletter, twitter and social media channels, developing the Observatory’s position and presence and maintaining the organization’s email contact lists
6. to advise on any new developments or media that may be useful for communicating with OBS target audiences (video, webcasts, webinar, pod casts, etc.), delivering agreed innovations
7. to liaise with the Regional Office, HQ and external contacts on all web and platform developments, guiding and supporting any web developers and ICT consultants

Face to face interaction
8. to identify key opportunities and events for communicating and disseminating Observatory products, helping target presentations to raise the Observatory’s profile in key settings
9. to work with the publication and face-to-face dissemination teams and technical staff to deliver high quality events to promote and support Observatory work (publication launches, conferences)
10. to sustain and develop relevant networks, including by following and influencing the communication and dissemination activities of related, Brussels-based and European networks and organizations, attending events on behalf of the Observatory when appropriate.

Any other duties
11. to monitor, OBS communication and dissemination activities and advise senior colleagues on scope for improvement
12. to support internal communication between the Observatory hubs and with the Observatory partners
13. to build relationships and coordinate with key EURO and HQ WHO colleagues on all communications-related business
14. to participate in appropriate Observatory meetings and coordination activities, working closely with the publications and face-to-face dissemination and IT teams
15. to take on any other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (at Bachelor's level) in communication science, journalism, media studies or another related field.
Desirable: Master's degree in one of the above-mentioned areas..

Experience

Essential:

At least two years of experience in communications and / or knowledge brokering, preferably with health policy networks and / or the Brussels' EU environment.

Experience in providing written content for dissemination to a target audience, managing newsletters and social media, managing websites / communication platforms.

Proven track record in organizing events, such as publication launches, or similar.

Demonstrated experience with shaping dissemination and promotional material.

Desirable:

Experience in the area of communications within the United Nations.

Experience in delivering communications training.

Experience in the Brussels' EU communications and policy environment.

Skills

Demonstrated ability to write communicative texts.

Technical knowledge of health systems and policies.

Technical skills with ICT tools for communication and knowledge transfer.

Demonstrated knowledge of web content management and of twitter.

Insights into web statistics, search engine optimization, content management systems.

Emotional intelligence; Ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same; ability to work in a complex and high-paced environment.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Moving forward in a changing environment
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French, Russian or German.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 47,895 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 1912 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.